Daylight Donuts to open in Taylorville next month

Saturday

Mar 23, 2013 at 12:04 AM

TUSCALOOSA | Thad Pate got a nursing degree from the University of Alabama, but he changed professions to go into sales, opening a blinds and shutters business in Tuscaloosa. Pate said he hopes to open the city’s first Daylight Donuts store on April 1 at the Publix shopping center (the Capital Market Center) off Alabama Highway 69 South and Southview Lane, near Shelton State Community College.

By Patrick RupinskiBusiness Editor

TUSCALOOSA | Thad Pate got a nursing degree from the University of Alabama, but he changed professions to go into sales, opening a blinds and shutters business in Tuscaloosa. Now, he is opening a second business — a doughnut shop.Pate said he hopes to open the city’s first Daylight Donuts store on April 1 at the Publix shopping center (the Capital Market Center) off Alabama Highway 69 South and Southview Lane, near Shelton State Community College. He is putting the finishing touches on the 1,450-square-foot shop where he plans to make fresh doughnuts and related pastries daily. The doughnut shop will have indoor seating for about 15-20 people and a drive-through window.“They have one (a Daylight Donuts) in Auburn, and another in Orange Beach. That’s where I first tasted them,” he said.Daylight Donuts was started in Tulsa, Okla., in 1954 and has grown to more than 900 franchised doughnut shops, according to the company’s website. The Tuscaloosa store will be the 11th Daylight Donuts in Alabama and the second in West Alabama — there also is Daylight Donuts store in Fayette.The company has its own dough recipe, according to its website, but Pate said it allows its franchise operators to try new things. That is what attracted him to the business, he said.A friend has suggested he make Long Johns (a frosted rectangular-shaped pastry) with a maple icing and bacon bits, he said, saying it’s something he wants to try.He also plans to customizes doughnuts for customers, putting desired toppings and engravings, and he said plans to make an extra large doughnut that could serve several people. “I’d like to call it Big Al,” he said. Pate said he initially will have three to four employees and plans to open about 4:30 or 5 a.m. and stay open until 9 p.m., seven days a week.“Getting into this is exciting and scary at the same time,” he said. “I am saying a lot of prayers, but I think people will like it.”The menu also will include Community and gourmet coffees, including cappuccino and espresso and kolaches, a pie-like pastry with meat and cheese or fruit.The business plans to offer catering and delivery. Pate said while it initially will concentrate on doughnuts, he might add other items to the menu later if there’s a demand.